Quarry September 2023

DELTA TURNS AURORA INTO A GREEN MACHINE

One of Australia’s largest fleets of rentable machinery has helped a Victorian company succeed.

LOADMASTER MAKES LIFE ON-SITE EASIER

As quarrying moves into a data analytics-driven environment, intelligent load tracking has become critical.

RESPECT @ WORKWHAT IT MEANS FOR YOU

explain how quarries can help prevent sexual harassment.

Matthew Smith and Ashleigh O’Connor

For more information scan the QR code

IN THIS ISSUE

FEATURES

22 A NEW DAWN FOR CATERPILLAR’S MEDIUM WHEEL LOADER

24 LESS FUEL FOR COMPANY’S PUSH TOWARDS CARBON NEUTRAL

28 LOOKING INTO THE FUTURE

34 KOBELCO’S HIGH WATERMARK OF QUALITY

DELTA TURNS AURORA INTO A GREEN MACHINE

Delta has helped an environmentally focused Victorian company succeed.

32

LOADMASTER MAKES LIFE ON-SITE EASIER

As quarrying moves into a data-driven environment, load tracking has become critical.

36 PUMP IT UP

38 WALKER QUARRIES TAKES THE NEXT STEP

40 ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH THE RIGHT LOAD

42 VOLVO’S RIGID HAULERS READY TO SET NEW STANDARD FOR THE AUSTRALIAN MARKET

46 INVEST IN THE FUEL AND LUBRICANTS OF TOMORROW, TODAY

48 NEW TECHNOLOGY CREATES A SMART QUARRY SITE

QUEENSLANDER STEPS UP TO THE PLATE

A company is offering the solution to quarries’ wear plate headaches.

52

RESPECT AT WORK: THE NEW WORLD ORDER

What quarries need to know to comply with the positive duty to prevent sexual harassment.

50 TIME TO EMBRACE LOWCARBON POTENTIAL

COVER ADVERTISER: ASTEC INTRODUCES THE NEXT GENERATION

Quarries across the country are benefiting from Astec Industries’ focus on innovation.

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FILLING THE REGIONAL SKILLS GAP

It’s no secret that Australia is facing a tight employment market, and this poses potential problems for quarries – especially those based outside of the cities.

The Regional Australia Institute found in its recent report, ‘Regional Jobs 2022: The Big Skills Challenge’, that job vacancies grew at three times the rate of metropolitan areas in December 2022. Making matter worse, many regions are also competing for the same applicants.

“Chronic skills gaps are emerging in certain parts of regional Australia that are battling high unemployment along with high job vacancy rates,” the report found. “Examples include outback Queensland, where job vacancies in 2022 were 25 per cent higher year-on-year, while unemployment is over 10 per cent.

“Supply of high-skilled trades and professionals is declining in part due to the longer-term erosion of regional post-school learning opportunities (VET and tertiary) making it harder to get those qualifications in region.”

A tight housing market and constraints around childcare also impact regions’ ability to fill roles with people from outside of those

regions. Despite rising populations, the number of houses approved for construction has declined in five of the last 10 years.

The report also revealed that more than 3.7 million regional Australians lived in a ‘childcare desert’ in 2022.

Quarrying plays an important role in many regional communities, creating jobs and boosting economic activity in locations across the country. But the sector also depends on skilled workers to provide essential materials for other critical industries.

The industry is working to avoid the demographic crunch by embracing diversity, targeting young people, women, and people from different backgrounds. However, this isn’t a problem that one industry can handle on its own.

Solving the skills shortage will require addressing other challenges, like the shortage of regional housing. A holistic approach is needed from federal, state and local governments, working in tandem with key stakeholders and industry.

Paul Hayes Managing Editor

“CHRONIC SKILLS GAPS ARE EMERGING IN CERTAIN PARTS OF REGIONAL AUSTRALIA THAT ARE BATTLING HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT ALONG WITH HIGH JOB VACANCY RATES.”

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NO ONE EVER SAID SAFETY SECOND.

NEVER IDLE

At 40 tons and over 30 feet long, safety comes first. By combining cameras, radar, and machine learning, obstacle intelligence gives operators eyes in the back of their head. To protect your crew, and other investments, like never before.

904 P-TIER OBSTACLE INTELLIGENCE

INTERNATIONAL ALLIES

In July, some of the brightest minds in quarrying travelled to New Zealand to attend the Institute of Quarrying New Zealand (IoQNZ) conference.

It is jointly held on an annual basis with IoQNZ and the Aggregate and Quarry Association of NZ (AQA).

The event was the biggest annual gathering of the country’s quarry industry, with around 600 people attending.

Clare Murray, Kylie Fahey and I were also in attendance to continue the collaboration between our two institutes.

The industry is facing similar challenges in both countries, especially around approvals and staffing. Quarries are also needing to adapt to new sustainability initiatives.

The IQA is well placed to support our friends across the Tasman, particularly when it comes to education.

We believe that education and training is a life-long opportunity which should be viewed in the broadest terms, involving initial qualifications gained through vocational and/or tertiary education programs, on the job training and ongoing professional development.

Continuing professional development is important in the extractive industry as it supports improvements in workplace safety, environmental management, community outcomes and business performance.

The IQA has developed and delivered educational platforms, programs, training, and resources that are industry specific and help meet duty of care and competency requirements for statutory positions.

As a member-based organisation, the IQA is working to lift the standard within the industry across many areas, including safety, environment, and people development.

The IQA’s education framework is aligned to industry need and targeted at professional development for quarry managers, quarry supervisors and operators. Ongoing education ensures you keep pace with current standards and regulation, have opportunities for career progression, and can contribute to a safe work environment.

Educational material from the IQA is designed to keep the industry up to date with the latest regulations, along with providing pathways to develop industry careers further, while encouraging safe work practises.

Both countries can learn to solve the shared problems facing the industry, and this kind of collaboration should be encouraged.

Let’s continue to work together as to grow our industry.

Duncan Harris President Institute of Quarrying Australia

www.quarry.com.au

The IQA’s Strategic Plan 2020 to 2025 embodies the following vision, values and strategic priorities:

Vision:

Educating and connecting the extractive and associated industries.

Values:

• A safe and sustainable environment.

• Diversity and inclusion.

• Working development skills, careers and life-long learning.

• Networking, connection, trust and communication.

Strategic Priorities:

• Maximise outcomes for industry through education and sustainable practise.

• Increase our relevance.

• A high performing and sustainable organisation.

IQA Contacts:

Phone: 02 9484 0577

Email: admin@quarry.com.au

Chief Executive Officer

Clare Murray

Deputy President

Sarah Bellman

Company Secretary

Rod Lester

For all education, member and branch enquires please email: admin@quarry.com.au.

The Institute of Quarrying Australia

Educating and connecting our extractive industry

“THE IQA IS WELL PLACED TO SUPPORT OUR FRIENDS IN NEW ZEALAND,, PARTICULARLY WHEN IT COMES TO EDUCATION.”

Machine guidance services

Drilling and blasting to a design RL and accurately excavating to it, can make a profound difference to your operations: reduced drill and blast costs and improved load and haul performance, not to mention minimisation of the amount of dust needed to level benches. Talk to us about how we can implement a machine guidance system in your quarry.

TOM CRUISE ON ‘TRICKY’ QUARRY SCENE

The new film, Mission: Impossible –Dead Reckoning Part One, is fronted by Tom Cruise once again as the franchise – which began in 1996 –takes the storyline to new heights quite literally in some respects.

Eagle-eyed fans from England may have noticed the backdrop for a particular jaw-dropping scene as Cruise and Esai Morales fight on top of a speeding train in Darlton Quarry, Stoney Middleton.

The quarry has been out of production for a number of years but has become known as a popular rockclimbing spot across the main wall.

The quarry became a hive of activity in 2021 when filming took place which required a replica train and tracks to be built for multiple scenes in the movie.

The franchise’s leading actor Cruise and the film’s writer and director Christopher McQuarrie have recently voiced their approval for the quarry scene.

“There was not a surplus of trains available to be wrecked. We had to build the train if we wanted to destroy it,” McQuarrie said on social media.

“Crashing the train involved multiplying factors of difficulty. Every

“THE QUARRY BECAME A HIVE OF ACTIVITY IN 2021 WHEN FILMING TOOK PLACE WHICH REQUIRED A REPLICA TRAIN AND TRACKS TO BE BUILT FOR MULTIPLE SCENES IN THE MOVIE.”

single camera had exactly one shot at getting it right.

“Everything you are seeing in this spectacular train sequence is done to invest the audience in these characters.”

Cruise added in a tweet: “This train sequence was tricky, but the outcome made it all worth it. I can’t wait for everyone to see it come to life.”

It’s not the first time that a quarry has been key to One of Hollywood’s latest productions after a Welsh quarry was featured in House of the Dragon.

MAJOR MONEY INJECTION FOR LOW-CARBON CONCRETE

Investment overseas is pouring significant cash into the low-carbon concrete industry as part of a sustainability drive.

Researchers at Imperial College London received more than $1 million from the British Government to help their new lowcarbon concrete project.

Researchers at the college are testing a new method of developing a “carbon negative” cement additive. The focus of the project is magnesium silicate minerals such as olivine being transformed into supplementary cementitious material (SCM).

Researchers believe the process has shown promising signs that it can capture

CO2 and if the material was strong enough, the additive could help cement become a more carbon-neutral material to use.

Lord Callanan, Energy Efficiency and Green Finance Minister said it was exciting to see more movement in the low-carbon concrete space.

“Britain has a long and proud history of pushing the boundaries in science,” he said.

“The transition away from fossil fuels presents a huge opportunity for our growing green energy sector and we will continue to make sure UK business can benefit from its full potential.”

Professor Chris Cheeseman, of Imperial’s

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering explained how the process could yield positive results for the building industry.

“Combining the production of a cement replacement material with carbon capture is a really innovative approach that has massive potential to decarbonise cement, concrete and therefore construction,” Professor Cheeseman told SG Voice.

While there will need to be significant testing to ensure concrete with the additive maintains strength and durability, there is hope it could be adapted into building codes at the government level in the future.

Tom Cruise at the Mission: ImpossibleDead Reckoning Part One premiere.

Image credit:

Shutterstock, Loredana Sangiuliano

BASALT COULD BE THE KEY TO THE CLIMATE CHANGE BATTLE

Basalt is usually regarded as a simple byproduct found across quarries and mines but an innovative new project is casting this quarry by-product in a new light.

However, one enterprising business in the United Kingdom is looking at finely crushed basalt in a new light using enhanced rock weathering (ERW) for CO2 removal.

After some academic study, Undo is using basalt as part of ERW to help capture CO2 with the potential of 100,000-year permeance with billion-tonne volumes each year.

The weathering process involves the rock breaking down over time and, as it is exposed to rainwater, a chemical reaction helps remove CO2 from the atmosphere.

Undo founder and chief executive Jim Mann said CO2 removal needed more consideration in the fight against climate change.

“Even if we eliminate fossil fuel use and decarbonise all areas of our lives, such as transport, manufacturing, energy, infrastructure and food production, we’re still going to have CO2 lingering at elevated levels in our atmosphere,” he wrote in a blog post.

“The problem with CO2 is that it hangs around for hundreds of thousands of years – and it will keep increasing the earth’s temperature unless we can remove it.

“For this reason, carbon removal technologies are so crucial to the future health of our planet.”

Undo has based its commercial application around the existing infrastructure sources and the quarries that have basalt in abundance.

Farmers can scatter the basalt across their fields and crops and while it weathers in the rain, it locks in CO2 from the atmosphere.

“For ethical and practical reasons, I believe we must make sure that the CDR market isn’t the exclusive realm of well-funded tech companies,” Mann wrote on the blog.

“Real change will be inclusive – of infrastructure, of talent, and regardless of geography.

“With ERW, we can scale carbon removal and distribute the benefits to people in rural communities.”

Undo used 27,000 tonnes of basalt across 1,350 hectares of farmland last year which they estimate will remove 6,750 tonnes of CO2 from the atmosphere.

The company said farmers who have used the mineral-rich volcanic rock on their crops have found improvements in soil fertility, crop health and soil’s pH levels.

“To be clear, there is no silver bullet when it comes to CDR technology. The biggest challenge we face is measuring and quantifying how many tonnes of CO₂ have been removed,” Mann wrote.

“We work within natural environments.

“So, while it will take time to drive down uncertainty, our team is stitching together what I see as the key components of success.”

DATE SET FOR 2024 WOMEN IN INDUSTRY AWARDS

The Women in Industry Awards will return in 2024 to recognise exceptional women who have achieved success through leadership and innovation.

The awards recognise outstanding women from across a range of industrial sectors, including quarrying, bulk handling, mining, transport, manufacturing, engineering, logistics, waste management, rail, construction.

It is an opportunity to highlight the women who are driving change in the industry, and to help break down barriers and create new possibilities.

Winners will be announced at a gala dinner on June 20, 2024, in Sydney. Sponsorship opportunities for the 2024 Women in Industry edition are

now available. The Women in Industry Awards provide a unique opportunity for progressive businesses to get onboard and demonstrate their support of women in their workplace and the industry.

Four sponsors have already signed up to support the 2024 awards: Atlas Copco, SEW-Eurodrive, Fulton Hogan, and Paccar.

The announcement follows a record event in 2023, with 160 nominations across 10 categories and a 95 per cent growth compared with 2022. The gala dinner sold out for the first time in the event’s history, with a 55 per cent increase in attendance on 2022.

The winners in 2023 were announced across 32 individual media mastheads.

Undo is using basalt as part of ERW to help capture carbon dioxide.

Winners will be announced at a gala dinner in Sydney.

KOBELCO XD SERIES

The new XD Series is engineered for the most demanding applications. Built on Kobelco’s rock-solid reputation for quality and reliability, these extreme duty machines feature a rugged machine body with comprehensive additional reinforcement where it matters most. These machines take strength and durability to an all new level – delivering increased performance across even the harshest work sites. Built for power. Built for reliability. Built to last. The new Kobelco XD Series.

MARBLE QUARRY INSPIRES BOUTIQUE FASHION STORE

Quarries have played inspiration to film backdrops to concert venues but a boutique fashion store in Greece may be a new one for the industry.

Boutique fashion brand Nikos Athina, known for its men’s and women’s swimwear and clothing, has adorned some of the world’s biggest celebrities.

Nikos Athina channelled its Greek heritage into its latest showroom design, which was planned by Saint of Athens creative agency, to resemble a quarry on the island of Mykonos.

Saint of Athens worked with a marble expert company Form to Matter to ensure the marble quarry design resembled its Greek surroundings. The store features Dionysos marble which is understood to have been used in constructing masterpieces like the Parthenon in Greece.

Marble still plays an important part in the Greek economy. Greece, along with the likes of Italy, Turkey and India, are trusted providers of the highly durable stone which is

USING SPECIFICALLY CUT MARBLE BLOCKS TO CREATE A FULL MOCK-UP OF THE STORE AND THEN SHIPPED TO MYKONOS TO MAKE THE QUARRYINSPIRED SITE.

popular for domestic builds, particularly in Australia.

Using specifically cut marble blocks to create a full mock-up of the store and then shipped to Mykonos to make the quarryinspired site.

The end result is a strikingly white showroom that carries the raw authenticity of Greek excavation with its rich heritage in the quarrying space.

NEW BIOBASED ASPHALT COULD BRING GREEN RESULTS

A leading Dutch University has conducted a new study that could help improve the supply of quality asphalt in the future.

Wageningen University’s research department released a recent report into its studies which saw a biobased asphalt that can slash emissions and maintain durability.

The university has put forward that the asphalt sector could cut emissions by as much as 30 to 60 per cent if the fossil fuel-made bitumen was replaced with lignin and plant residues.

While asphalt traditionally uses bitumen as the binder, lignin can be an alternative binding agent.

It is found in plants and bioethanol production.

New calculations from the university show that biobased asphalt in which 50 per cent of fossil bitumen is replaced by lignin contributes to avoiding 85 to 170 kilotonnes (kt) of CO2 equivalent per year in 2050, based on 550 kt CO2 eq per year emitted by the current asphalt sector in the Netherlands.

The University has been working on biobased asphalt for close to a decade. Construction of the first demo roads with 100 per cent biobased raw materials in the top layer is expected to start later this year or in 2024.

Greece, Italy, Turkey and India, still produce highly durable marble.

Asphalt traditionally uses bitumen as the binder.

DO THE BIGGER JOBS.

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A bigger machine for bigger results, Volvo’s 90-tonne excavator is built for the toughest applications with the perfect combination of power and stability.

Built with protected components, including a heavy-duty boom and arm, and strong frame structure, the machine can be relied on for durability and sustained uptime in demanding applications. Paired with the largest hauler on the market, the A60H and EC950E can be expected to deliver a high level of productivity in the quarry industry.

Contact your local branch for more information

WORKERS’ VILLAGE SOLUTION PROPOSED FOR QUARRY TOWN

A Myalup limestone quarry could be set to be neighbored by workers’ village set-up as local construction companies look for employees to carry out infrastructure projects.

The West Australian reported that transport and earthmoving company B&J Catalano, a Brunswick Junctionbased business, faced “additional pressures” to find employees to service its projects. A report to the Shire of Harvey outlined the need for a 101-unit worker village arrangement near the quarry.

“The capacity to service that growth in the South West has required B & J Catalano to source employment during construction operation from

beyond the local pool of regional employees to attracting workers from the Perth Metropolitan Region and the Eastern States,” the report said according to the Western Australian “The demand for labour for construction management and infrastructure projects has resulted in particular challenges in both attracting and accommodating that labour.”

The innovative solution to attract talent comes as companies from across several sectors including mining, quarrying and earthmoving battle to attract the top talent to service infrastructure projects across the country.

Speaking to Quarry earlier this year, AREEA deputy chief executive officer, Tara Diamond, said that businesses within Australia are dealing with a variety of different issues.

“As we commence 2023 it is clear Australia still faces crippling skills shortages. On top of this, employers are dealing with the triple impact of increased inflation, minimal unemployment and salaries which have increased significantly over the past six months,” Diamond said.

“We are still very much in an ‘employee’s market’ in the resources, energy and servicing sectors.”

RESOURCES VICTORIA INTRODUCED TO HELP QUARRIES

The Victorian Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) introduced the new entity to help with the quarrying and resources sector within the state.

“Creating Resources Victoria helps signal the importance of our minerals and quarry sectors in helping the state grow and transition,” DEECA said. “Resources Victoria will help drive increases in the mineral and quarry materials we all need for a vibrant state-wide economy and to support the construction sector, new infrastructure and the renewable energy transition.”

The announcement came earlier this month and came into effect on July 31. It will be the central body to regulate the quarrying and resources sector’s efforts in policy development, reform and approval coordination.

It also takes in the Geological Survey of Victoria and the Earth Resources Regulator. The ERR has been Victoria’s regulator of exploration, mining, quarrying, petroleum, recreational prospecting and other earth resource activities.

The new entity is expected to:

• regulate the resources industry to effectively manage risks to the environment and community

• manage access to the State’s resources for current and future use

• develop policy and regulatory reform

• regulatory approval coordination

• regional geoscientific investigations and data provision.

“WE ARE STILL VERY MUCH IN AN ‘EMPLOYEE’S MARKET’ IN THE RESOURCES, ENERGY AND SERVICING SECTORS.”

TARA DIAMOND

A report outlined the need for a 101-unit worker village.

The ERR has been Victoria’s quarrying regulator.

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PRODUCT FOCUS

UNIQUE DESIGN PROVIDES BEST BLOW BAR PERFORMANCE

Magotteaux offers different designs and manufactures various solutions of blow bars, impact plate and side liners for horizontal impact crushers.

The combination of the original design with the specific Magotteaux solutions resides in a fusion of best suited design and alloy. The optimum design to best crush the feed material together with the best alloy resisting against wear and shocks will together maintain the blow bar’s original profile constant. Its solution guarantees the best results in terms of performance (maintaining the nominal capacity on a high level) and end product quality (requested cubicity, sieve).

Magotteaux blow bars are available in metal matrix composite solutions combining the wear resistance of ceramic with the useful mechanical properties of cast iron or steel, considerably increasing the life span of the parts and the productivity of the crusher.

• Specific alloy and ceramic combinations for aggregates and recycling markets

• Reduced wear-related costs by increasing the life span of the parts

• Increased quality of production by keeping the initial wear profile constant

• Optimised maintenance with spare parts replacement time reduced

• Increased safety by reducing the risk of breakage

For more information, visit magotteaux.com

IMPRESS THE INSPECTORS WITH JOHN DEERE JOBSITE SAFETY

Safety is one of the highest priorities on a quarry, especially given that the job site is never the same two days in a row.

John Deere not only focuses on designing machines that make jobs easier and more efficient – it also aims to make the job safer.

That’s why it has developed Deere Obstacle intelligence, which uses a combination of cameras, radar, and machine learning to protect anything in close proximity.

John Deere Obstacle Intelligence features rear camera monitors for the back and sides of the machine, with in-cab displays to put everything in front of the operator. Blind spots are minimised, and mirror-mounted cameras provide an extra wide field

Obstacle Intelligence is only part of the overall precision construction offering in

Operational Intelligence helps avoid downtime and make operational decisions based on real-time data. Machine monitoring and Connected Support keeps operators updated with machine and fleet performance, along with job progress. Over-grading, changes in work scope, understaffing and lack of time add up to rework. That’s why John Deere’s flexible grade-management tools are engineered to minimise rework, or avoid it altogether. To boost productivity, and the bottom line. Jobsite automation helps mitigate and compensate for long hours, bad weather, heavy materials, and labor shortages. Whether the operator is a greenhorn or a 40-year-veteran, jobsite automation ekes out efficiency in every machine in your connected fleet to make the repetitive, less repetitive.

For more information, visit deere.com.au/en/technology-products/precision-

INTRODUCING TYRESENSE

TyreSense Asset Management is a fully integrated tyre, rim/wheel, TPMS asset management software that uses a work order system to track activities such as tyre rotation, inspection, and repair activities, provides reports on the location and condition of tyres, wheels, rims, throughout their lifecycles.

Asset Management is integrated with TyreSense 4.0 TPMS

Platform providing operational pressure and temperature data together with measured tyre performance. Tyre rotation and rim non-destructive testing (NDT) scheduling, reduces administrative workload for tyre bay personnel, allowing them to focus on safety observations and leadership in the field interactions.

TyreSense Asset Management provides full access to your tyre management live data through an API, allowing full integration with your business reporting platforms such as Microsoft Power BI.

For more information, visit rimex.com.au

ASTEC INTRODUCES THE NEXT GENERATION

Quarries across the country are benefiting from Astec Industries’ focus on innovation.

When Ron Edwards was looking to replace some key equipment in his Tasmanian quarry, one name kept being mentioned – Astec Industries.

A trusted mechanic assured the Tassie Group owner that Astec’s range would provide the durability needed to take the site to the next level. He invested in its crushing and screening equipment and has not looked back.

“He said you can’t go wrong with Astec and they’ve got a good design which allows for easy maintenance,” Edwards said.

“It’s been a good machine and it’s been designed well.”

This ability to take durable, well-designed machines and add leading innovations has been a hit for quarrying operations from Tasmania to Queensland.

Hopkins Bros’ managing director Paul Hopkins said his company has relied on Astec Equipment to undertake a major expansion of their Midgee site.

“It is just well-built machinery across the board, you know you’re paying for quality and you get good back-up and support with it,” Hopkins said.

“All the Astec machines we’ve got have been really reliable and durable.”

To ensure Australian quarries can operate at their best, Astec has continued

to innovate its equipment with customer feedback at the forefront.

Adam Gordon, Astec Australia’s business line manager – material solutions, said Astec is continually working to introduce new technologies into its product range, which is why the company has released the next generation of crushing and screening plants.

“We draw on five decades of experience and global expertise to continuously improve our products,” he told Quarry.

“Astec has always been at the forefront of technological innovation. Our goal is to produce equipment that is more operator friendly, more productive, and more reliable for our customers.”

From tracked scalper plants, jaw plants, closed circuit impactor plants, screening plants and the in-demand tracked Kodiak cone crushing plants, Astec has the range to suit all Australian requirements.

Edwards has been impressed with Astec’s equipment and is hoping to add another cone crusher in the coming year.

“Thanks to the support of our customers and contractors we’ve been able to bring in new Astec equipment,” Ron Edwards said.

“By getting this new gear, we’ve been able to develop new and exciting products for our customer base.”

Astec’s FT300-OC Mobile Cone Next Gen Plant was officially launched at CONEXPO in Las Vegas in March this year.

Gordon said the proven Kodiak 300+ cone crusher is a popular feature of the updated FT300-OC, but the new model includes several operational changes.

The most significant of these is the rotation of the Kodiak Crusher to ensure the drive motor is no longer in line with the conveyor. Moving this drive and associated fans away from the material flow minimises the potential of fines that can be disturbed by the machinery.

Several of the changes to the FT-300OC have been driven by customer feedback. The updated plant incorporates Astec’s TRAC10 control system.

The integrated system monitors the crusher operations, providing the operator with automated calibration and setting controls. Gordon said the result is greatly improved crushing performance, yields and efficiency. Safety, operational and access updates have also been a major focus in the Next Generation range.

“In particular we looked at access,” Gordon said. “Stairways and gates have been repositioned and installed to enhance safety on the machine. It might seem like a small

issue, but access is a key component in the safe operation of any piece of equipment.”

The updated FC-300OC features new hydraulic drives.

“There have been major advancements in hydraulic drive technology in recent years. The technology incorporated into this new model means it is more economical and fuel-efficient for every tonne of material produced.”

Astec’s new GT2612v Tracked HighFrequency Screening Plant boasts 1.8m-wide top and bottom decks. This screen’s unique design feature in the way that it introduces screening frequency for particle separation into the media itself, creates higher G-forces and delivers a more aggressive screening action for increased fines separation.

The screen is equipped with hydraulic operating angle adjustment, RPM and stroke adjustments on the nine individual exciters, which maximises screening efficiency and production.

Gordon said the company’s next generation of equipment is already performing well in Australian quarries.

“We have our Next Gen GT125 Tracked Jaw Crushers, GT205-3D Tracked Sizing Screens, GT206 Tracked Scalper Plants, and FT200OC & FT300-OC Tracked Cone Crushers already working in Australia,” he said.

“The GT125 Tracked Jaw Crusher is built for

portability, especially for contractors regularly moving locations. It’s a smaller machine but it performs well above its size. The customers are delighted with its performance.”

Astec jaw plants are designed for maximum jaw-crushing mobility. Featuring the industryleading Pioneer series jaw crushers, the plants offer high-capacity throughput and are extremely effective in aggregate and recycling applications.

The GT125’s reduced size makes it simple and easy to transport, and can be moved quickly and safely, providing economic benefits for plant owners and contractors.

NEXT GENERATION SUPPORT

While Astec has focused heavily on bringing the best innovations to its customers, it comes with a promise to provide high-level aftersales support.

Hopkins said his company had been impressed by the level of support Astec provided during the quarry expansion.

“We’ve got a very good relationship with

for us and shows the company is looking after them,” he said.

“You can ring them whenever and they’ll always return your call which is great.”

Gordon said the personal relationships were valued by Astec and its employees.

“That’s why we stay in close touch with our customers. We work hard to understand their businesses, and place orders months in advance to ensure we minimise any potential shortfalls,” he said.

“Our customers depend on us, and our job is to try and make sure they have what they need, when they need it. More than that, it’s also to ensure the equipment we produce is safe, productive and reliable.

“The right machine for every application, every time. That’s what Astec customers rely on. It’s what we’ve been doing for more than fifty years. And it’s what we’ll continue to do.” • For

Astec’s FT300-OC Mobile Cone Next Gen Plant was officially launched at CONEXPO in Las Vegas in March this year.

Astec’s new GT2612v Tracked High-Frequency Screening Plant boasts 1.8m-wide top and bottom decks.

The integrated system monitors the crusher operations.

A NEW DAWN FOR CATERPILLAR’S MEDIUM WHEEL LOADER

The new Cat 950 and 962 wheel loaders are the result of a new era of design that promises to increase productivity.

The two models pack in versatility with the full features of a larger wheel loader. These smaller tractors excel in the toughest applications, while service intervals are extended to lower maintenance costs by up to 30 per cent.

Caterpillar’s data shows an increase in productivity by up to 10 per cent over the previous M series models.

“All six models in the updated 950 to 982 range represent a new generation in wheel loader performance and design created over a 60-year history of manufacturing front-end loaders,” Caterpillar’s product application specialist Dick Mars said.

“These years of research, coupled with customer panellists and surveys resulted in feedback in the development of a new breed of machines that excel in performance, efficiency, safety and comfort.”

The Cat C7.1 USA EPA T3 emissionslevel engine offers high power density with a combination of proven electronics, fuel, and air systems. Electric fuel priming pump, fuel-water separator and secondary fuel filter combine with component design and machine validation to offer unmatched reliability and uptime.

LOWER MAINTENANCE TIME AND COSTS

Quarries are constantly on the lookout for ways to lower maintenance time and costs to improve operations.

Caterpillar kept this front of mind when designing the new 950 and 962 range. Ongoing filter and fluid costs are up to 30 per cent lower on the new models due to new change intervals. Caterpillar increased parts commonality across the wheel loader range to assist reduce owning and operating costs and less waste. Remote troubleshooting helps to efficiently diagnose problems, so the loader can get back to work quickly. Connecting the machine to a Caterpillar dealer’s service department ensures the new loaders operate with the most up-to-date software. Remote flash pushes software updates to the machine in the background and installation can be initiated by the customer in a safe manner, reducing impact on production schedules. An app helps to manage fleet location, hours, and maintenance schedules and provides alerts for required maintenance. Alongside this, the new 950 and 962 can be configured directly from the Caterpillar

factory with industry application-specific configurations to optimise performance and machine durability in the toughest applications.

ELEVATED COMFORT AND SAFETY

The entire operating environment inside the cab has also been transformed.

Standard features inside the ergonomically improved cab include a new updated seat. All-around visibility is achieved through the cab’s floor-to-ceiling windshield, large mirrors with integrated spot mirrors and rear-vision camera and placing a next-gen modular instrument pod on the B-post.

“We take safety to the next level with Cat detect technology. It’s like our cars where an audible and visual alarm sounds when you are reversing close to objects behind you, the new next generation of wheel loaders is built with safety in mind,” Mars said.

“We want to keep the job site safe for everyone and the enhanced features in the cab such as standard monitored seat belts with an optional exterior beacon feature for supervisors to elevate job site safety and the cab windshield which extends from floor-toceiling improves visibility.”

As quarries search for the newest ways to improve productivity, the next generation of Cat© wheel loaders show promise.

The new Cat 950 and 962 wheel loaders pack in versatility with the full features of a larger wheel loader.

SIMPLE-TO-USE TECHNOLOGIES

All models in the updated 950 and 962 loader series feature standard Cat payload with assistance for accurate weighing of bucket payloads, so operators can load to target the first time every time. Real-time data is fed to the operator display and allows a manual tip-off function to improve final bucket adjustments and truckload accuracy.

Software enhancements released in 2022 are available to all models in the Next Gen Range but are standard from the factory on the 950 and 962 platforms. These include split loading for multiple target payloads including audible alarms, improved decimal place accuracy, target weight shortcuts and a new deceleration pedal logic built into the Cat integrated braking system.

The updated Cat advanced payload gives real-time ‘weigh on the go’ payload accuracy to give operators confidence when loading trucks, stockpiling, hoppers and so on. By loading accurately the first time, helps reduce fuel burn and lessen operator fatigue.

All next gen loaders can be updated with new feature sets. It allows owners to extend their return on investment.

As part of the Cat advanced payload system, the roll-out of the integrated onboard job ticketing system with weighbridge

connectivity has already proven a gamechanger for quarry operations without weighbridges. This system calculates material weight in real time by using data from sensors that measure bucket position and loader frame position, as well as hydraulic pressure.

Bucket payloads are transferred to the truck cumulative payload weight as soon as an

estimated weight is calculated. The wheel loader operator can see the cumulative payload weight and receive overload alerts if the bucket weight exceeds the payload limit. The system can be configured with conventional paper tickets, or it can be sent via email.•

For more information visit cat.com

Caterpillar has updated several features in the cabin to increase comfort for workers.

The new Cat 950 and 962 wheel loaders are the result of a new era of design.

The updated Cat advanced payload gives real-time ‘weigh on the go’ payload.

LESS FUEL FOR COMPANY’S PUSH TOWARDS CARBON NEUTRAL

Combing fuel efficiency with durability, Liebherr’s machines have proven a perfect match for an environmentally-conscious sand producer.

AVictorian company has turned to German engineering to achieve its goal of being an environmentally friendly high-volume sand producer.

Sand Supplies Pty Ltd operates three sites within Victoria and produces more than 600,000 tonnes per year of washed and graded sand for concrete, as well as sand for other industrial uses. The numbers alone qualify the company as one of Victoria’s top five sand producers.

Any machinery that works at The Gurdies, Grantville and the newly developed Glen Forbes site must handle high-level work with heavy-duty production in difficult conditions. This is especially true given the construction activity across Melbourne and locally in Bass Coast.

As Sand Supplies’ managing director, Robbie Viglietti, said the machinery had to contribute to the company’s overall vision of reducing its environmental impact by delivering low fuel consumption. It is a lot to ask, but the company is committed to being carbon neutral.

After a test demonstration of Liebherr’s L 586 wheel loader back in 2015, Viglietti and Sand Supplies realised they had found a company that could meet their requirements.

Since the initial demonstration, Sand Supplies has acquired three Liebherr L 580 XPower wheel loaders.

“I was ultimately impressed by the build quality and some of the notable features including the hydrostatic transmission, I think it’s fantastic and I really like it,” Viglietti said.

“The fuel consumption is better than any loader of that size that I am familiar with that we’ve used.

Reduced fuel consumption has been a key factor in Liebherr’s wheel loaders. The company’s data shows that the L 580 XPower require an average of 30 per cent less fuel than comparable wheel loaders.

The L 580 XPower also features a power-split travel drive that combines the hydrostatic drive, which is optimal for short loading cycles, with the mechanical drive, which is advantageous when driving long distances and uphill.

The combination of both drive types in one wheel loader ensures maximum efficiency and outstanding fuel savings for all requirements.

Other design features include excellent design and build quality.

“The (wheel loader) has good stability, it has really good accessibility for maintenance and the cab design is great.”

“Other excellent design features include the bucket geometry that positions the lower bucket pins and bushes out of the sand resulting in reduced wear; the spill guard is also great at deflecting any spill material from the pins and bushes further reducing wear. On top of that, the actual bucket’s pins and bushes are really good quality, they’re exceptional,” Viglietti said.

“Our first Liebherr loader has passed 15,000 hours without the need to replace lower bucket pins and bushes; another brand of loader we have onsite has needed three sets of pins and bushes replaced in the same timeframe.”

As well as the L 580 XPower wheel loaders, Sand Supplies has acquired a PR 756 dozer, and more recently, an R 945 G8 crawler excavator.

Both the dozer and crawler excavator have proven low fuel consumption.

The new R 945 G8 (crawler) excavator has been monitored over several demonstrations and consistently uses less than 15 litres per hour of fuel. The significant reduction across all Liebherr machinery allows companies like Sand Supplies to save money on fuel.

Viglietti said the consumption has had tangible effects.

“The R 945 G8 (crawler) excavator is incredibly fuel efficient when we’re running it in economy mode, it is unbeatable and it is really impressive,” he said.

Sand Supplies has acquired three Liebherr L 580 XPower wheel loaders for their sites.

“It has given us a low operating cost and increased efficiency and productivity.”

These factors in combination have meant Liebherr’s machines outlasted competitors in the tough conditions of the Sand Supplies’ sites.

The R 945 G8 (crawler) excavator has higher digging forces and greater traction of the undercarriage. The swing torque of the upper carriage was also optimised. These improvements to the excavator result in higher performance and increased fuel efficiency.

With a production rate of over 600,000 tonnes per annum Sand Supplies cannot afford to have unexpected downtime.

Viglietti said this is where Liebherr came in with service support to get the machines operating with minimal downtime.

“Liebherr after-sales support is excellent. On the occasion that we have needed assistance, we have found them to be very responsive, generally on the same day,” he said.

Sand Supplies is carbon-neutral across its

extractive operations which is offset through its tree planting program and Liebherr’s lower fuel consumption.

Viglietti said the company was impressed with the performance of Liebherr’s machines and their positive environmental impacts.

“It is part of our broader commitment to reduce environmental impact and we’ve been able to achieve that together with Liebherr,” Viglietti said. •

For more information, visit liebherr.com.au.

BUY. SELL. HIRE. QUARRY MARKETPLACE

Liebherr and Sand Supplies have developed a strong working relationship.

DELTA RENT SUPPORTS AURORA WITH A GREEN MACHINE

An environmentally focused Victorian company is celebrating ongoing success, thanks to its ongoing partnership with Delta Rent.

Aurora Construction Materials sites are located in some of Victoria’s fastgrowing areas. The company operates four sites across Victoria including Epping, Rockbank, Clyde, and Beveridge to support growth in these areas.

Data from Melton City Council shows the Rockbank to Mount Cottrell area has Victoria’s highest growth rate, and Australia’s third highest growth rate, with a population increase of 28 per cent in 2022. City of

afford downtime to hinder operations as residential and commercial infrastructure projects increase.

“This business is built on availability - availability 100 per cent of the time is essential. You just can’t afford to have any downtime,” Aurora Construction Materials Operations Manager Scott Retallick said. “Being a vertically integrated business, we’re working with a product that does have a shelf life, so availability is key to us being viable

pandemic, which exacerbated delivery times. A partnership with Delta Rent and access to their large fleet of latest model heavy duty machinery, has been vital to ensure Aurora Construction Materials ongoing operational capacity.

“Lead times on machines to purchase are quite lengthy, and while that is starting to ease, the Delta Rent fleet gives us flexibility, access to the latest model and the right machine for our specific

“That’s a testament to our relationship, which is so important in this industry, and that’s why we’ve utilised them for a long period of time. With access to service 24/7 Delta Rent has us covered.”

Aurora Construction Materials is environmentally focused, relying on Delta Rent to match its needs and ambitions with the right equipment.

Established more than a decade ago, Aurora Construction Materials has developed a reputation for supplying sustainable aggregate, crushed rock, and concrete for civil, residential, and commercial projects.

It minimises environmental impact by using recycled water, low reliance on virgin rock and increasing reliance on solar power and other renewable methods.

The company produces low-carbon concrete alternative products, known as their “Ultra” range, with the Ultra Recycle and Ultra Performance products achieving a reduction in Portland cement of 70 per cent and 75 per cent respectively.

Scott explained sustainable focus was core to Aurora’s ethos. “We have a motto of ‘redefining green’ to ensure we’re always looking at how to be further sustainable,” he said.

“ We continually look at alternative ways to do things in order to improve environmental outcomes.”

After establishing a strong working relationship in recent years, an Hitachi ZW370 5 wheel loader from the Delta Rent fleet is currently hard at work, helping to meet Aurora Construction Materials’ needs and environmental goals.

Featuring redesigned axles which reduce energy usage, the in-house designed gear transmission delivers improved performance.

frame and low-mounted lift arm cylinder, to enhance its durability and minimise downtime.

The loader is well suited to Aurora Construction Materials’ Epping site, where the ability to manoeuvre tight spaces is critical to a smooth operation.

“We’re on a site where space isn’t abundant so having a machine which is able to load efficiently and is the right length to fit in those tight spaces has helped us out immensely. It’s ensured we’re able to load effectively on-site for our internal plants, as well as any external customers.”

Bradley Elms, Aurora Construction Materials Quarry Manager Epping said the ZW370’s on-site functions, along with its environmental impact with fuel burn, were key considerations to meet operational capacity.

“With a company focus to improve environmental outcomes, aspects such as fuel burn are essential factors - if we’re burning less fuel there is less C02 emissions. A flow on from that is using less fuel does provide a financial benefit as well. Those two things coupled together lead to optimal outcomes,” he said.

Scott noted the company was proud it had found a partner in Delta Rent, which supported Aurora Construction Material in meeting their sustainablity goals.

“In terms of our sustainability goals, the Delta Rent machine is part of a core function on-site. Without it, it’s like a broken cog and the rest of the cogs won’t turn,” he said. “The machine has a key function for us between those two aspects - one can’t function without the other.”•

For more information, visit deltarent.com.au

LOOKING INTO THE FUTURE

Eltirus Founder Steve Franklin was recently asked what key technologies and issues that the quarrying industry would face in the future.

Decarbonisation is an important issue for the quarying sector. 2030 is not that far away. What may be, is Australians pledge to reduce carbon emissions by 43 per cent.

To give some sense of the scale of what is required, take this example. According to Federal Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen, it’s estimated Australia must install 22,000 500-watt solar panels every day for eight years along with 40, seven-megawatt wind turbines every month – backed by at least 10,000 kilometres of additional transmission lines. These are big numbers in anyone’s books.

Many quarries struggle for sufficient power capacity. How would your site cope with the need to double the amount of energy you currently use (and a very ‘peaky’ demand at that) to run electric mobile equipment.

New energy infrastructure, electrical haultrucks and loading tools replacing diesel powered ones, and new skill sets to maintain them are a star high goal with a sevenyear time horizon.

If we look at business capital cycles and the time it takes to build new major infrastructure, we have to plan for these changes now.

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

There is a lot of discussion about artificial intelligence (AI) and what it will mean for our jobs, our businesses and even mankind. While only early days, the initial results are quite remarkable. A colleague of mine noted that he had asked ChatGPT to write an article for him for submission to an overseas industry magazine and that he had been quite stunned by how good an article it was.

In contrast, you might recently have seen the picture of a building construction site with the hoarding carrying the message “Hey ChatGPT, finish this building…”.

While we may be a while off from the latter, there is no doubt whatsoever that AI will provide the smarts to make robotics for other

than routine ‘assembly line’ actions viable. What we do know is that any AI works best on large datasets of relevant, clean information. Put simply, to learn it needs to have a lot of experience to draw on to be able to form useful conclusions. One of the foremost proponents of this in Australia explained it to me this way – if you know a song very well, even if parts of it are blanked out by silence, our minds allow us to ‘fill in the gaps’.

But what if we don’t know the ‘song’ (or its business equivalent)? While we tend to have large financial datasets, how many businesses collect and maintain large operational ones? One of the key issues that the mining industry is working on now are a common set of operational definitions and data taxonomy – why? So that they will be better able to

compare data and make valid comparisons (whether with AI or not). By way of just one simple example – one truck manufacturer considers the time a haul truck cycle occurred at the start of the cycle, while another considers it at the end of the cycle – doesn’t sound like much until you have a multi-brand fleet and longer haul cycles.

We see that the collection of operational data into clean, consistent, and accurate data as a key business enabler.

Understanding the need for and creating the technical professionals (not just management trainees) of the future are critical.

New energy infrastructure, electrical haultrucks and loading tools are replacing diesel powered ones.

SKILLS SHORTAGE

While there is a significant (and valuable) discussion in the industry about diversity and inclusion, we will need to address the fact that quarrying will become a much more

technical business than it currently is. If nothing else, the regulators will increasingly expect us to meet similar standards in terms of survey, geology, and mining engineering as the rest of the extractive industries.

Having accurate survey, effective geological information, engineering based geotechnical analysis and strong engineering foundations are critical in ensuring safe, effective, and profitable operations.

The question is, “where will these technical professionals come from?”

To give some sense of why I would pose this question, take note of a recent statement by BHP Australia boss Geraldine Slattery, who noted in the Australian Financial Review that “…the country’s talent pipeline was drying up, with the number of mining engineering graduates falling by 74 per cent between 2015 and 2022… Meanwhile, labour productivity had declined by 8 per cent, while labour costs had doubled.”

We already know there is an increasing shortage of quarry managers and supervisors, and anything done to address this lack and work to bring new people into the industry and train the ones who

are there is very necessary, and a credit to all concerned. But is it also time for us to look a little further into the future and make sure that we are working to create the technical professionals that we will also need? Do our industry bodies and leading companies need to offer scholarships? Do we need to rely on immigration and hire overseas? Whatever our choice, we need to do something.

Understanding the need for and creating the technical professionals (not just management trainees) of the future are critical.

AUTONOMOUS OPERATION

There is no doubt that autonomous operation will come, though interestingly I think it will now come after decarbonisation (I previously thought it would come first) and ride in parallel with advances in AI and on the back of increased site bandwidth.

As I have mentioned previously, the autonomous haultrucks we can expect to

see in our industry are going to be very different to the trucks that the mining industry is currently using. Not only in size, but in how they are controlled.

By way of example, most autonomous mining trucks are ‘dumb’ – yes, they have a lot of sensors and can operate without a driver, but in reality, they are controlled from a central control room with the majority of the decisions made there, rather than on the machine. A new generation of technology is going to see that decision making pushed out to the truck in a so called ‘edge computing’ approach.

A combination of AI and new skills are going to change how we view autonomous operation.

REMOTE WORKING

Another change for us to consider is the use of remote operations centres such as the one that Rio Tinto operates in Perth. Completed in 2010, Rio Tinto staff control autonomous rail operations and mining

equipment over thirteen hundred kilometres away from the actual operations.

Why not for the quarrying industry, particularly on the larger sites? With the enabling technologies of autonomy, AI and sufficient bandwidth in place, we could see a transformative shift in our industry that will reduce costs, provide a better (and safer) working environment for our people and reduced environmental impacts.

We could also better position ourselves to attract the talent we are going to need to make these transformative changes – who would you rather work for, a large mining company who provides remote working and a better quality of life or a quarry company who doesn’t, irrespective of the remuneration.

Remotely operating our quarries will help us improve the quality of our employees lives and help us to attract and retain the talent we need. •

For more information, visit eltirus.com

A combination of AI and new skills are going to change how the industry views autonomous operation.

LOADMASTER MAKES LIFE ON-SITE EASIER

As quarrying moves into a data analytics-driven environment, intelligent load tracking has become critical.

Quarries rely heavily upon integrated data tools to inform decisions around everything, from productivity optimisation to load management and maintenance.

KPMG’s report, Data Science in Western Australia, showed 93 per cent of the companies surveyed agreed – data analytics was crucial to their industry.

As a result, it has become increasingly important that workers can use technology to increase efficiency and reduce risk.

Position Partners has prioritised this with its range of Topcon machine control and positioning systems.

The technology, which automatically calculates loads, is far advanced from the old method of manually recording and tracking the load amounts. The previous method

allowed for human error, increased wait times and left production as an afterthought.

When used to their full extent, Position Partners’ heavy machinery solutions provide a complete management tool that optimises productivity in a quarry.

The company is the first in Australia to be trade certified with the Loadmaster Alpha 100 loader scale. It enables workers to automatically and accurately track how much material is loaded by the loader into the truck.

In quarries, every minute counts and can make or break the bottom line.

“If you’re days away from your base, you need to be able to get that data there straight away,” Position Partners’ client success manager Chris Nussey said.

“On these big sites,being able to know what it is and where it is at any given time is vital.

“Cash flow is king, and you have to get invoices out because any delay in that is detrimental to the business.”

Fitted out with GPS, data storage as well as mobile and internet connectivity, the Loadmaster’s Sitelink package can instantly send back data to managers to make informed decisions.

The Loadmaster’s Sitelink package can connect to the Topcon Haul App on workers’ phones to track operator usage and can be integrated as part of a worker-friendly interface that is easy to use.

This enables workers to provide information on travel delays or additional information management needs to know to make production decisions.

The introduction of the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator’s Chain of Responsibility

Quarrying is becoming increasingly reliant on data and analytics as an industry.

legislation has made easy access to information even more critical.

The rules mean everyone who works with heavy vehicles can be held responsible for breaches of road laws and may be legally liable if they have control over the transport – not just the driver or operator of the heavy vehicle.

Accurate data sets ensure machines are loaded correctly the first time and save companies from headaches down the line.

Clients have told Position Partners how they have used the Loadmaster to improve driving routes on-site to increase productive time and decrease fuel burn.

They achieved this by using Topcon’s Sitelink platform, which is cloud-based, and connected to the GPS. It delivers an accurate map of the site which is updated every five seconds

“The jobs are done live, and all the information is stored in the cloud from the location to destinations, vehicle registrations and everything you would need to record manually,” Nussey said.

“By tracking the fuel usage and powering down on that you can improve productivity.

“You can redesign the site based on this data, so you don’t have to drive so far so you save on fuel and maintenance.

“It is a huge productivity and management tool that helps the machine on-site as well as

DODGING DOWNTIME

To avoid lengthy periods of downtime customers need to access after-sales service which can get machines running again.

Position Partners has offices in every state and territory throughout Australia, as well as New Zealand, Indonesia and Singapore.

In addition, the company’s Tokara platform

support wherever they are working without the need to wait for a technician to come to the site.

Recently, Nussey was able to provide technical support to a mining operation in Laos in Southeast Asia from his home office in Australia.

“If the machines are set up with a modem we can dial into that machine and I can drive the buttons and everything on that scale,” Nussey

“I can help add things or modify things or a software update remotely and we don’t have to

“We can do any modifications or support to the system that a customer requires from our laptops.”

In an increasingly data-driven industry, Nussey said the company’s quarrying solutions enable customers to have easy access to make informed decisions to keep sites productive.

“The Loadmaster has been around for many years and has to be one of the most common on the market but that’s because it is proven to work,” Nussey said.

“The most common comment we get back from customers is how easy and straightforward they are to use.

“Loader scales are a dime a dozen and they all come out with a number, but the Loadmaster’s interface enables everyone to easily use it and all the features.

“It makes life easy.” •

Quarries rely heavily upon integrated data tools to help make informed decisions.

The Loadmaster’s Sitelink package can instantly send back data to managers.

KOBELCO’S HIGH WATERMARK OF QUALITY

The concrete and quarry business has developed strong relationships across the industry since the concrete plant was established around 34 years ago.

Relationships with their suppliers Kobelco and local dealer Capital Construction Equipment became crucial as the sand and gravel quarry needed to adapt to external changes.

Baxters Quarries’ directors Andrew and Brendan Baxter remembered the challenges they faced at the time.

The company was forced to shift away from dry extraction to wet extraction and effectively dig out from the water.

“It came about because we’re a floodplain quarry and what governments are now looking at with potential flooding of quarries,” Brendan said.

The unique nature of the Wodonga quarry being situated on the floodplain required experience and knowledge of local conditions and equipment market.

This is why Andrew and Brendan leaned heavily on their long-standing relationship with sales manager Paul Shephard at Capital Construction Equipment, one of Kobelco’s longest-standing and highest market share dealers in Australia. “We went down the Kobelco path because we already knew about its reliability and the service from Paul,” Brendan said.

“We knew we had to look at the larger end of their machines to get as much depth as possible to suit our strategy.”

By working together, they managed to outfit a Kobelco SK500LC-10 with an EIK 21m long reach arm and extra wide 800mm grousers.

Quarries to improve its sand production, which was high in demand as a scarce resource around the region.

Sand supply is set to become increasingly important after the United Nations stated the world was facing a sand shortage earlier this year.

“Kobelco’s are super reliable and fuelefficient which is a benefit for this site,” Shephard said.

“This was a real work in progress, we

Baxters Quarries worked together with Kobelco and Capital Construction Equipment to create a tailored solution for their floodplain quarry.

we got the green light.

“Once the excavator was ordered from Kobelco we had to import the long-reach boom and arm from Malaysia from EIK which is something they specialise in. Then we were able to fit the package in our Albury workshop ready for the site.”

The SK500LC’s 257kW engine has powerful torque (1400 Nm), allowing it to work on tricky terrain without chewing up fuel.

The fuel economy is helped by the SK500LC’s hydraulic system which minimises fuel consumption to maximise power. It incorporates Kobelco’s boom-toarm hydraulic regeneration system.

“The operator comfort was important as well, our operators love the Kobelco machines and we’ve found they have great fuel economy,” Andrew said.

“We’ve been able to customise all the Kobelco machines we’ve got from Paul and spec it the way we want it.

“Whether it’s been the long undercarriage, extended dipper arm or the grouser plates, Kobelco has been able to get it to us quickly.”

Baxters Quarries has four Kobelco excavators on site and no plans of stopping any time soon. While Andrew and Brendan had no issues with the performance of the Kobelco machines, they know help is just across the river.

“The service and back-up from Capital Construction has been one of the main

drawcards,” Andrew said.

“We’ve dealt with Paul for about three generations now, so we’ve got a lot of faith in Paul and Capital Construction.

“We’ve had excellent support from them, if we have any problem, they’re on to it straight away for us.

“They’ve been able to be very adaptable and schedule our services when we’re not using the machines and they’re excellent machines.

“Everyone that we know that’s looking for a machine we point them Kobelco’s way.”

Shepard said he looks forward to continuing the successful partnership.

“Baxters Quarries is a long-time Kobelco customer and our relationship with them as Capital Construction Equipment being two locally owned businesses is important,” Shepard said.

“They’re both gentlemen and have been great to work with for a long period of time.”•

For more information, visit kobelco.com.au

Once the excavator was ordered from Kobelco we had to import the long-reach boom and arm from Malaysia from EIK which is something they specialise in. Then we were able to fit the package in our Albury workshop ready for the site. ”

Baxters recently took ownership of a Kobelco SK500LC-10 with an EIK 21m long-reach arm.

PUMP IT UP

Xylem’s Godwin HL270 pump is helping quarries keep water out.

Wwith water. And the larger the hole, the more likely the water is to get in.

This is especially relevant when the depth of a hole goes beyond the water table –where ground water resides. This situation creates a constant battle, as rain filters through the soil and flows down into the pit.

This poses a particular problem for quarries. When there is excess water at the bottom of a pit, mining for materials becomes difficult, and in some cases, impossible.

Jordan Thomson-Larkins, product and applications manager for Godwin Pumps in ANZ, told certain size, it becomes much more difficult to pump water out. This is because standard pumps often cannot handle the massive static lift required to move water up and out of a deep hole.

“Xylem’s Godwin HL270 unit is the largest pump in the Godwin range,” ThomsonLarkins said. “It is capable of handling extremely high vertical lifts, meaning you can have a deep quarry and pump the water out of it from a single stage.”

“Historically, you would need multiple separate stages to deliver the water out of the quarry one step at a time.”

A two-stage pumping system will often require more equipment, such as baffle tanks, and generally speaking, the more equipment involved with a task, the more complex it will be.

More moving parts means more potential failure points and can make expansion efforts difficult in the long run.

The Godwin HL270 is also very efficient in terms of how much power is required to move significant amounts of water.

It is designed to handle high lift and high flow rates of up to 200 litres per second at 200m.

“Other pumps aren’t designed to handle these duties,” Thomson-Larkins said.

“The Godwin HL270 comes with two seal options: mechanical and gland packed; and multiple material options: duplex as standard.

some time – almost 150 years, in fact. Godwin itself has been producing reliable pumps for more than a century and has developed a reputation for high quality.

The Godwin HL270 design features a thick casing, with removable front and rear wear plates to make maintenance easier.

“It’s a beast,” Thomson-Larkins said. “It’s a market-leading pump that is tough enough to handle the harsh conditions on a mine or quarry site.”

While diesel pump technology has been around for some time, Godwin has developed methods to make the system more efficient –through hydraulic optimisation. This reduces the amount of energy required, making it more cost effective to run and assisting with decarbonisation efforts.

In addition, the pump can be equipped with the X36 control panel, allowing operators

Thomson-Larkins said the Godwin HL270 has been installed across Australia.

“It’s been running excellently. Initially, the customer ordered the pump as a rental unit, but decided to outright purchase it after seeing what it could do,” he said.

“It is a 30.5L pump that operates with a V12 783kW engine at 1800RPM. Overall, it has been a great success. They’re happy with the gland packed seal – it’s easy to maintain and disassemble and handles solids well.”

Xylem has a wide range of brands that specialise in the water market across the world. This allows the company to listen, learn and adapt to local environments, working in partnership with customers and benefiting from a wide knowledge base.

Xylem, whose brands are involved across several sectors, including agriculture,

through its service centres.

“We have a facility in all states, and if a customer needs support on-site we have service technicians that can attend and support work where needed,” he said. “Xylem also holds stock locally, which means we can quickly respond if necessary.”

Thomson-Larkins believes the Godwin HL270 pump is likely to become a popular addition to quarries around Australia.

“Ultimately, we foresee quarries going deeper and deeper as they get more efficient. To handle that depth, they will either need to buy several smaller pumps or one big one,” he said.

“Xylem’s Godwin HL270 is tailored for this scenario – and we’re excited to see it deployed as the industry grows.”

Formoreinformation,visitxylem.com

Xylem’s Godwin HL270 unit is the largest pump in the Godwin range.

Jordan Thomson-Larkins, product and applications manager for Godwin Pumps in ANZ.

WALKER QUARRIES TAKES THE NEXT STEP

CDE has commissioned a 200tph sand wash plant to help a NSW quarry maximise its uptime.

Walker Quarries, a subsidiary of Sitegoal, has an ambitious plan. It aims to grow significantly over the coming decade, increasing its client base and expanding into new material offering. Underpinning this growth is a new mining

Much of this aggregate is mined at its greenfield site near Wallerawang, on the west side of the Blue Mountains. Here, hard rock quartzite is crushed to make construction aggregates and manufactured sand. However the quarry needed to install a new

ADDRESSING THE PROBLEM

Walker Quarries initially met CDE, a wet processing solutions specialist, in 2019 at the German trade exhibition bauma.

The quarry had consulted with many suppliers from around the world, before ultimately choosing CDE, with its 30year specialty experience in washing, dedicated local project management and aftersales support teams acting as a catalyst for the decision.

Wayne Chapman, quarry manager for Walker Quarries, said choosing CDE was definitely the right move for the firm.

“Since our initial conversations and discussions, we’ve been well informed, and appreciated the input that both of our teams had, tailoring our plant to our needs, whilst maximising efficiency and guaranteeing return on investment,” he said.

“It’s been an exciting journey working with CDE and we know we made the right choice in partnering with them.”

An issues for the site was water scarcity and space available for settling ponds.

Much of Walker Quarries’ aggregate is mined at its greenfield site near Wallerawang.

CDE and Walker Quarries teams on site.

The team at Walker Quarries wanted to make sure they could sustain the next drought, given the relatively limited footprint for catching rainwater.

Additionally, settling ponds used to recycle water can often encounter significant operational and logistical challenge, leading to significant revenue losses. This is not only due to high maintenance costs, site footprint, and downtime, but also because highvalue fines can become lost and trapped at the bottom of ponds.

As such, Walker Quarries wanted to reduce its dependence on water harvesting and maximise its water recovery which became an integral part of the design.

It also sought to increase plant capacity. The previous plant allowed Walker Quarries to process 50 to 60tph on average, and with the desire to expand and grow, the team knew they needed to find a solution.

MINIMISED DOWNTIME UNDERPINNING SUCCESS

The plant comprises of CDE’s M-Series M4500 modular wash plant, an AggMax scrubbing and classification system, an AquaCycle high-rate thickener, and a filter press sludge dewatering system.

This solution has a feed rate of over 200tph

producing a range of products including two washed sands and six washed and scrubbed aggregates.

CDE’s M-Series M4500 modular wash plant integrates feeding, screening, sand and aggregate washing and stockpiling on a single chassis with customisable hydrocyclone configuration for unrivalled cut point control to deliver consistently graded products.

CDE also adapted it’s Atro-feed jet-pump system into the sand plant to increase pump and cyclone life while reducing downtime and operating costs.

The EvoWash sand wash plant which incorporates a VibroSync drive system to distribute power evenly across the full screening area. This ensure the maximum transfer of energy to the material for enhanced dewatering performance, and is complemented by the AggMax which combines pre-screening, scrubbing, organics removal, sizing, stockpiling, fines recovery and filtrates removal on a compact chassis.

The AquaCycle is a high-rate thickener, designed to eliminate settling ponds. It recycles up to 90 per cent of the process water for immediate re-use in the system, assisting Walker Quarries in maximising water recovery.

Another feature of the plant is CDE’s SmartTech plant management app, enabling the firm to understand the plants performance, as well as allowing the team to make informed decisions to increase productivity, improve operational efficiency and maximise up-time.

PROVEN RESULTS

With CDE’s technology, Walker Quarries is producing two sands; 0-3mm and 3-5mm, as well as six aggregate products; 5-8mm, 8-75mm, 10-14mm, 14-20mm, 20-75m and +75mm oversize.

The manufactured sand produced is used in the local construction industry and the fine sand and aggregates are being supplied for underlying football and cricket fields as drainage material.

Walker Quarries can now produce two sands simultaneously and seamlessly. With the previous plant, the firm would have had to switch out the screens to produce two different type sands which resulted in excess downtime, however with the new CDE plant, this is no longer necessary, resulting in increased uptime.

“We’re delighted with the success of the entire project, from the initial discussions, right through to the installation and aftersales care, the entire team at CDE has included us every step of the way and completely exceeded our expectations,” Chapman said.

“The benefits of the increased productivity and outputs are already evident in our operation and we really look forward to seeing where this partnership can take us.”

Daniel Webber, CDE’s general manager for Australasia, said it has been a pleasure getting to know the team at Walker Quarries.

“The whole team are passionate about becoming as efficient as possible while they continue on their growth journey,” Webber said.

“It’s exciting to see this plant operational to really see the benefits it has, not only for Walker Quarries, but for the local construction industry and economy.

“We believe we’ve succeeded in achieving one of the firm’s main goals in maximising water retention with our technology, which not only benefits Walker Quarries, but the local landscape as well.

“This project has been a huge success, and one that we’re very proud of as a pioneer in the industry in NSW.” • For

The EvoWash sand wash plant incorporates a VibroSync drive system.

ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH THE RIGHT LOAD

An Australian company has set about helping quarries optimise site safety with accurate scale technology.

Loadrite scales have emerged as important tools which can optimise how Australian quarries operate.

The weighing systems provide accurate and real-time measurements, enabling quarries to make data-driven decisions.

Access to real-time, accurate data has become increasingly important since the introduction of the Chain of Responsibility (CoR) legislation in 2018.

The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) introduced the legislation to ensure that anyone with control over the transport task, not just the driver or operator of the heavy vehicle, can be held responsible for breaches of road laws.

The changes to the CoR ensured the legislation aligned more closely with workplace health and safety provisions. All parties in the chain must reduce risks in transport tasks and ensure they have optimised safety.

NHVR stakeholder specialist Simone Reinertsen previously spoke to Quarry about the importance of the legislation and encouraged the use of load scales.

“The NHVR encourages businesses to adopt any additional measures that may improve compliance, or their ongoing obligation to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the safety of their transport activities as a loading manager relating to a heavy vehicle loaded at their premises,” Reinertsen said previously.

“Installing and operating a fixed weighing system is one option, but in each case, the scale of the operation and level of risk does affect what would be reasonably required under the Heavy Vehicle National Law.

“What should always be done includes acquiring a knowledge of potential risks to your heavy vehicle transport task, taking steps to minimise or eliminate heavy vehicle safety risks and monitoring heavy vehicle safety. “

This means companies need to be able to load once and load correctly the first time to ensure transport is compliant with the legislation.

In addition, the legislation has necessitated that companies are able to show accurate and relevant data to support their compliance claims.

SmartTech Australia, an authorised Loadrite dealer, has proven to be a trusted partner for the quarrying industry due to these factors. Loadrite scales can be applied to most machinery in quarries including excavators, loaders, conveyor belts and haul tracks.

They use a rotary position sensor to monitor multiple measurement points. This method enables accurate reporting by averaging variations in weights or discarding them if outside tolerance levels.

This means quarries can use the data knowing the Loadrite systems have accounted for potential errors, including inexperienced operators or rough terrain on site.

SmartTech’s staff are highly trained and able to provide tailored solutions and calibration. This helps quarries optimise load capacities, minimise downtime, and ensure compliance with CoR regulations.

“Having a great group of professionals on our team makes us a unique product offering in itself,” SmartTech managing director Allan Hubble said.

“We are extremely proud of the past projects we have delivered on. We live in a changing technology space that we enjoy on a daily basis.

“Taking our clients to the next level of capability is what we do best.”

The Loadrite scales enable quarries to boost productivity, enhance safety, and contribute to sustainable practices.

By using the features of the Loadrite scales, companies will be able to use the system to optimise fleet management and ensure all transport is neither under nor overused in operations.

SmartTech Australia’s knowledge has helped many Australian quarries achieve solutions that have been solidified with exceptional endto-end service.

The company has established a presence across the country with offices in Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, Western Australia, and Tasmania.

Australian quarries are positioned to thrive in the competitive market with improved productivity and efficiency by leveraging SmartTech’s partnership with Loadrite. •

For more information, visit smarttechaustralia.com.au

VOLVO’S RIGID HAULERS READY TO SET NEW STANDARD FOR THE AUSTRALIAN MARKET

CJD Equipment, Volvo Construction Equipment’s national Australian distributor, will soon be introducing the much-anticipated R100E and R60E rigids into the Australian market, along with full aftermarket care service, parts, and consultation support to customers.

Volvo’s new rigid haulers are made for surface mining and quarrying applications where operation costs and safety are critical.

“The Volvo R100E is an impressive design that offers a good balance between productivity, fuel efficiency, comfort, ease of maintenance and safety,” CJD Equipment’s national product manager for Volvo CE Hayden Grant said

LOADS OF PRODUCTIVITY

The E-Series R100E is a completely new 95-tonne rigid hauler that combines market and customer knowledge with proven components, innovative technologies, and a striking new design.

The R100E is equipped with a robust 783 kW tier two engine, boasting exceptional

horsepower and ensures maximum efficiency and productivity even in the most challenging terrains.

Thanks to its V-shaped body, the 60.4m3 capacity hauler ensures optimum load retention and minimal material carry-back. The R100E is designed with a lower center of gravity and even weight distribution, which spreads the load impacts and structural stresses equally across the hauler, resulting in less wear on the tires and significantly reduced operating costs.

Similarly, the Volvo R60E is made to effortlessly take on steep gradients and improve cycle times with high torque capabilities and high drive axle multiplication, delivering impressive tractive force and high levels of rimpull. This 55-tonne machine offers a 36.04m3 capacity and 715hp, making it the

As the Australian quarry industry continues to evolve, it is essential to stay ahead of the game with innovative equipment that enhances productivity, operator well-being and safety.

The new rigid haulers have been optimised to suit quarrying sites across the country.

“For what we’ve invented and what we’re bringing to market, I would say it is a third quicker than previous methods,” Medill said.

“Everyone so far has been very impressed with the products.

“Each insert has 90-degree cross lines for alignment on it, so it is easy for people to be more user-friendly and gives them a heads up to save them extra time.

“Our pieces are CNC-machined which gives a consistent product and you’re going to get a precision fit every time and it’s a lot easier to use.”

Insertus’ product can be used in mobile crushing plant designs to fixed crushing plants.

some, Medill said it was important the inserts fitted properly.

“It’s not about making one insert or anchor that fits all, with our inserts they’re specifically made to fit the thickness of the wear plate, we custom make them.”

“When it is done like that you know it is going to be right and fit for purpose.

“The hard work is done with all the centre lines being marked and with the precision of our

All Insertus WPIA’s products are made from 4140-grade steel for a durable and consistent product. Medill and his team manufacture the goods in Townsville which ensures the products

Being an Australian-based operation allows

downtime for quarries.

“At the end of the day downtime is money and while that plant isn’t going it is losing money, so we need to be able to turn it around quickly for them,” Medill said.

While many products for quarries can be made overseas, Medill said it was important for the company to remain based in Australia.

“That is really important to me, we live in the greatest country in the world as far as I am concerned and I want my products to be made in Australia,” Medill said.

“This way we can check the quality of the product and ensure it is right.

“We’re very excited for the future and for a lot more people to use it and get the benefits out of using it with the cost and time savings.” •

For more information visit insertus.com.au

All the company’s products are Australian made from its Townsville headquarters.

It’s not about making one insert or anchor that fits all, with our inserts they’re specifically made to fit the thickness of the wear plate, we custom make them.

INVEST IN THE FUEL AND LUBRICANTS OF TOMORROW, TODAY

Viva Energy Australia and Shell are helping quarries invest in biodegradable and sustainable solutions.

The Climate Council has recommended Australia cuts its emissions by 75 per cent by 2030 and aims for net zero by 20351 to meet its international obligations.

The quarry industry has a key role to play in this global effort.

Low-carbon inputs will become increasingly important with the Climate Council tipping low-carbon supply chains will become dominant in the future2.

These predictions make it important for quarry operations to take advantage of innovative fuel and lubricant solutions. Viva Energy Australia is the Shell Licensee and Lubricants Macro Distributor in Australia, which can offer biodegradable lubricants, renewable diesel, and many sustainable products for the industry.

Viva Energy works closely with the Shell global teams to keep up to date with trends in construction and can help quarries explore ways to build a more sustainable

work site. Its technical support team can also help with proactive maintenance, optimising biodegradable lubricants and reducing carbon emissions to build a more sustainable business.

REDUCING CARBON EMISSIONS

The Viva Energy carbon solutions team is on a mission to help customers use more sustainable products to fuel their businesses. Some of these include renewable diesel, or Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO), which is made from sustainably sourced renewable raw materials such as used cooking oil and animal fat from the food industry waste.

They also offer biodiesel which can be used as an alternative to conventional diesel and is produced from renewable feedstocks through a process called transesterification.

Viva Energy carbon solution’s account manager Ben Ramsay said biodiesel was a solid investment for quarries.

“Compared to standard diesel, biodiesel has the potential to reduce carbon monoxide emissions and particulate matter, improve fuel lubricity, and raise the cetane index. As part of a business’s decarbonisation strategy, it’s a short to medium-term solution that we can assist them with,” Ramsay said.

Viva Energy has released a range of opt-in carbon fuels and products, certified under the Federal Government’s Climate Active scheme, which can be tailored to provide optimal solutions for emissions reduction today and into the future.

“Because our products require no physical change to be certified carbon neutral, they can be used as you’ve always used them, with the same machinery and infrastructure. This makes them a low-cost alternative to other sustainability options,” Ramsay said.

“Our carbon solutions offer is an end-toend offsetting service with the purchase and retirement of offsets on your behalf.”

DRIVING PRODUCTIVITY

Four in ten construction companies say they often experience breakdowns because of ineffective lubrication, with 72 per cent stating issues with equipment reliability have led to unexpected costs.4

The more inefficient equipment is, the longer work will take and the more emissions a site is likely to generate. Effective maintenance helps to maximise equipment availability and reduce downtime.

Using high-performance lubricants can also improve fuel economy to reduce CO2 emissions by 2.4 per cent.5

In addition to supplying Shell’s high-quality lubricants and oils, Viva Energy can also help quarries minimise emissions through effective maintenance.

“There are effective ways to find the right lubricant for each piece of equipment to drive efficiency,” Viva Energy’s technical helpdesk specialist Silvana Farrugia said.

“We recommend customers use the free online tool like Shell LubeMatch, or contact us at the technical helpdesk to find out the best lubricant choices for heavyduty equipment.”

PROTECTING EQUIPMENT AND THE ENVIRONMENT

Readily biodegradable lubricants protect a quarry’s equipment as well as the sensitive ecosystems in which they operate.

Shell Naturelle lubricants are classed as readily biodegradable, making them environmentally safe with low ecotoxicity. This means they will have a reduced impact on plants or animals should an accidental leak or spill take place.5

The use of solar power during the production of these lubricants helps to reduce emissions, with any remaining unavoidable emissions compensated for to make the fluids carbon neutral.3

By using these types of lubricants, quarries can improve the sustainability of their operations without compromising performance.

Viva Energy and Shell Lubricants are equipped to help construction businesses deliver on their sustainability ambitions, while also keeping their equipment running smoothly and projects running on time and on budget. •

For more information contact 1300 134 205 or email carbonsolutions@vivaenergy.com.au

Shell Naturelle lubricants are classed as readily biodegradable, making them environmentally safe with low ecotoxicity.

REFERENCES:

1. The Climate Council. Report: Aim High, Go Fast: why Emissions need to plummet this decade. 2021.

2. The Climate Council. Australia’s Clean Industry Future: Making things here in a net zero world. 2023.

3. Shell. “Five Things to Know About Shell Naturelle.” N.D

4. Shell. “Predictive and Preventive Maintenance.” N.D.

5. Based on Shell Internal test data.

Viva Energy Australia is the Shell Licensee and Lubricants Macro Distributor in Australia.

Viva Energy works closely with the Shell global teams to keep up to date with trends to improve environmental sustainability.

NEW TECHNOLOGY CREATES A SMART QUARRY SITE

Komatsu’s fleet management platform Smart Quarry Site has a new name but is still offering leading technology to solve Australian quarries’ biggest headaches.

Komatsu has rebranded its fleet management solution to Smart Quarry Site, as it aims to become the central information tool for quarry managers.

The platform was previously known as Komatsu iSite but has moved under the Smart Quarry Site banner since September 1.

While the product has new branding and a new title, the Smart Quarry System will still provide real-time data to managers to make informed decisions around their sites.

The technology is a fleet management solution (FMS) designed to help site managers monitor the location and status of their fleets. Smart Quarry Site is brand-agnostic, meaning it’s compatible across a mixed fleet of machinery like trucks, excavators, and dozers, regardless of manufacturer.

Fundamentally, the technology helps a site optimise operations by allowing site managers to see every movement of their machines in real-time and provides

This exposes potential bottlenecks on-site or areas in need of extra resources.

All this information can be viewed in realtime on-site or remotely via cloud storage. The Smart Quarry Site dashboard can monitor the operating parameters of up to 50 machines at a time.

Smart Quarry Site also monitors fuel burn and can warn operators of a pre-start check failure, as well as overspeed and overload events. It sends a visual warning to the operator via the in-cab dashboard.

Smart Quarry Site allows a site manager to see when the machine is idling. They can then direct an operator to switch off the engine while waiting to conserve fuel.

Features also include auto-reporting capabilities for machine faults, automatic service meter readings, automatic machine utilisation measuring, and access through the myKomatsu online customer parts portal for parts and service kits.

This key performance data not only help to keep operators safe, but also serves to extend

And now the platform is being base built into some of Komatsu’s most popular quarrying

The Komatsu HD405-8 dump truck is a 514-horsepower machine with a 40-tonne capacity and Smart Quarry Site capability.

The HD605-8 dump truck also features Smart Quarry Site technology. With a 60-tonne capacity, this dump truck is purpose-built for quarry, construction and small-scale mining

Komatsu has worked collaboratively with its industry partners to improve the Smart Quarry

This tailored approach ensures the system can bring out the best in all quarries.

“Differentiating material types helps our customers better manage their KPIs,” Komatsu Smart Construction general manager James

“It can help sort what’s waste from what’s material, and therefore identify different

locations or courses for loading and dumping.

“Another aspect is that a lot of quarries look at blending. So they’ll want a certain amount of material A blended with material B.

“We’ve added an ESG component, which essentially measures the emissions per tonne that each machine is moving.

“As well as setting production targets, a site can now also set emissions targets.”

Keeping track of emissions is more relevant than ever, as government bodies strengthen regulations around carbon emissions in the quarry industries.

“If you can bring the idling time down, you can reduce your emissions count,” Muir said. “And just generally, an improvement to production is going to reduce emissions.”

“Another thing Smart Quarry Site can do now is produce heat maps showing emissions clouds. So if there’s a concentration in machines operating in a particular area, then they’re obviously going to produce more emissions in that spot than where they’re travelling.

“You can visualise that now, which is particularly important when you’re working out of quarries close to urban areas.”

But Smart Quarry Site isn’t a simple “set and forget” solution; it’s a tailored experience.

“First we do a site investigation,” Muir said. “We start by interviewing the site supervisors of the quarry – understanding what they’re trying to achieve. Then we start to build that into the system.

“Each site is individual with its own set of KPIs, so we customise the platform’s parameters for each customer.

“It’s the same with safety in terms of the electronic pre-start checks. The checks are tailored to each machine because certain machines will have different safety functions and start-up requirements.”

Smart Quarry Site may have a new name, but it is still the leading way for quarry managers to optimise their sites’ efficiency. •

For more information, visit komatsu.com.au

TIME TO EMBRACE LOW-CARBON POTENTIAL

Academics and advocates are calling for governments to fully embrace industry development with low-carbon building materials.

Arecent announcement from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese could signal a shift that will make green materials like low-carbon concrete increasingly important.

The Prime Minister has signed Australia up to be part of the “climate club” – a coalition of countries including Germany, France, Italy, Canada, United Kingdom, Japan, United States, as well as Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Indonesia, Luxembourg and the Netherlands.

Club members have agreed to move towards net-zero emissions by 2050, despite some advocacy bodies like the Climate Council pushing for more ambitious targets like 2035.

“We’re very pleased to join the climate club because we are ambitious and we also see that this isn’t just the right thing to do by the environment, but this is also the right thing to do by jobs and by our economy,” Albanese said at the announcement earlier this year.

“One thing we can do is to cooperate and learn off each other, because you can’t address climate change as just a national issue.”

The climate club, masterminded by Olaf Scholz, encourages countries to collaborate with a focus on decarbonising industrial industries.

The move comes after Australia committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 43 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030 which was announced last year.

Many key manufacturers, including several within Australia, have begun producing versions of alternative concrete as part of a more sustainable future.

The G7 climate club announcement signals the Australian government’s intention to push on with decarbonising

industries and pushing environmentally friendly products within them.

While the quarrying and wider industry have already begun innovating, government support is needed to help scale up these operations.

WHY GOVERNMENT SUPPORT IS NEEDED

Major concrete companies have been asking for greater support from the government to make ‘green’ manufacturing viable. The impact of that support would be two-fold: It would maintain Australian jobs and position the country as a leader in the field.

For companies to boost the production of ‘green’ materials, like low-carbon concrete, they need government help to reduce red tape and manufacturing costs.

Examples of this include developing building rating systems to incorporate lowcarbon materials like steel and cement.

Boral and Adbri have been on record asking for the federal government to implement a “carbon border adjustment mechanism” to level the playing field between local and overseas concrete manufacturers.

Parliament passed the Safeguard Mechanism (Crediting) Amendment Bill 2023, which tightened the belt on emissions in line with the nation’s target to reduce emissions by 43 per cent by 2030 – and the greater goal of net zero by 2050.

The new law enforces baselines on facilities with scope one emissions of more than 100,000 tonnes per year.

These strict baselines are set to be incrementally lowered each year, with the short-term goal of reducing annual emissions from 140 million tonnes to 100 million tonnes by 2030.

But it could force Australian manufacturers to move heavy carbon operations overseas

where they will not be restricted.

Adbri chief executive Mark Irwin said governments needed to support industry.

“While we appreciate the passage of the safeguard mechanism, we’re also urging the government to move with pace on its review into a carbon border adjustment mechanism to accelerate and ensure a level playing field for domestic manufacturers who are committed to decarbonisation,” he said told Australian Financial Review earlier this year. “A carbon border adjustment mechanism would preserve manufacturing jobs in Australia and also minimise the risk of carbon leakage,” Irwin said.

While the industry has already taken the lead on decarbonising operations in the heavy manufacturing space, they need further support to up-scale change.

As Albanese said when joining the climate club there “has to be by definition, a global response” but it needs to be one which sees the government embracing our industry rather than restricting it.•

Image credit: Shutterstock/ Juergen Nowak

RESPECT AT WORK - THE NEW WORLD ORDER

The industrial relations landscape in Australia has been the subject of a suite of landmark legislative reforms over the past year aimed to better prevent and respond to instances of sexual harassment, sex discrimination and victimisation on the grounds of sex. The reforms follow both an increasingly loud national conversation regarding the treatment of women and the publication of several reports on the appalling prevalence of conduct of this kind in Australian workplaces, including in Parliament House. While this article intends to focus mainly on the changes which came into effect on 12 December 2022 by way of the Anti-Discrimination and Human Rights Legislation Amendment (Respect at Work) Act 2022 (Cth) (the Respect at Work Act), notable amendments to the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) were also introduced to significantly progress gender equality at work, place further obligations on employers, and strengthen the legal and regulatory framework governing safe and respectful workplaces.

WHY WAS THE RESPECT AT WORK ACT INTRODUCED?

Prompted by the 55 recommendations put forward in the ‘Respect@Work: National Inquiry into Sexual Harassment in Australian Workplaces’ report completed by previous Sex Discrimination Commissioner, Kate Jenkins in March 2020, and building on other amendments implemented in 2021, the Respect at Work Act provides for the introduction of an additional 7 of the identified recommendations.

It amends, among others, both the Sex Discrimination Act 1984 (Cth) (the SD Act) and the Australian Human Rights Commission Act 1986 (Cth) (the AHRC Act) and noting that the Government advised of their intention to introduce and apply all 55 recommendations outlined within the Report, it is likely further legislative reform is to be expected.

WHAT ARE THE MAJOR CHANGES?

While the Respect at Work Act introduces a raft of important amendments, the most significant changes to note, include:

• A positive duty under the SD Act for employers and operators

The Respect at Work Act amends the SD Act to impose a positive duty on employers, or ‘operators’ as referred to in the quarrying and mining industry, to take “reasonable and proportionate measures” to eliminate, as far as possible, conduct that constitutes, sexual harassment, sex discrimination, and acts of victimisation on the grounds of sex.

Not only does the positive duty apply in the context of an employer in respect of their employees – but it also attaches to ‘all’ in respect of workers in the relevant business or undertaking, including taking reasonable and proportionate measures to eliminate, as far as possible, the conduct by third parties (such as customers, clients, suppliers, volunteers) towards employees and/or workers.

It should be noted, however, that operators have, and continue to have, a positive duty to provide a safe place of work for workers (which extends to include the prevention of sexual harassment) under the Mining and Quarrying Safety and Health Act 1999

Matthew Smith and Ashleigh O’Connor explain what quarries need to know to comply with the positive duty to prevent sexual harassment.

The Australian Human Rights Commission compliance powers do not commence until December 2023.

(Qld) (and other applicable State legislation dealing with work health and safety). As such, the new positive duty under the SD Act is intended to apply concurrently with other corresponding requirements applicable under relevant safety legislation.

• An express prohibition of a hostile work environment

The Respect at Work Act also amends the SD Act to insert a provision prohibiting conduct that subjects a person to a hostile workplace environment on the grounds of sex.

In determining whether a person has subjected another person to a hostile workplace environment, regard is to be given to the perspective of a ‘reasonable person’ and whether such person would have anticipated the conduct resulting in the workplace environment being offensive, intimidating or humiliating for a person of one sex. It is important to note that the conduct does not need to be directed at a specific person to constitute a contravention, and conduct that may been seen as a breach of this new prohibition, as an example, would include engaging

in general sexual banter, or making sexual innuendo’s or offensive jokes.

• Confers new compliance functions and powers for the Australian Human Rights Commission (the AHRC)

In amending the AHRC Act, additional investigative and enforcement powers have been conferred on the AHRC to monitor, assess and enforce compliance with the positive duty in the SD Act. These new functions will commence on 12 December 2023, and will enable the AHRC to require the production of information and documents, conduct inquiries into suspected noncompliance and issue compliance notices to operators specifying actions required to be taken to address any noncompliance with the positive duty.

Notwithstanding the above, the Respect at Work Act also provides for a lowered threshold to establish ‘harassment’ under the SD Act, by the removal of the requirement for conduct to be considered ‘seriously demeaning’, and extends the AHRC timeframes for making a complaint to the AHRC from 6 months to 24 months.

COMPLIANCE FROM AN IN-PRACTICE PERSPECTIVE

From a practical standpoint, the abovementioned amendments require operators to implement a more ‘proactive’ on-going approach to the prevention of sexual harassment in the workplace wholly, as opposed to operators treating occurrences as individual grievances that are responded to ‘reactively’ when a complaint is raised. There is no one size fits all system of ‘reasonable and proportionate measures’ that can be implemented to ensure compliance with the positive duty, instead it will depend on the circumstances, size and nature of the organisation, its resources, and the practicability and costs associated with implementing same.

However, it will require a system beyond remaining updated on law reforms, having policies and/or complaint-handling mechanisms in place, or conducting employee training, and necessitates undertaking periodic risk assessments to identify any risks or risks factors that may exist in respect of sexual harassment,

implementing reasonable and proportionate measures available to control the risks supported by measurable outputs.

In assessing risks, it is useful for operators to have regard to worker demographics, working patterns, the conditions and locations of work, the industry in which the organisation operates and whether that incurs any unique risk factors, culture/ engagement survey results and imminent work events.

In the event that the organisation identifies risks, in considering what is reasonable and proportionate to manage the risk, the operator may adopt measures including:

• tailoring work or rostering arrangements;

• instituting physical controls, such as lighting and cameras;

• restricting the consumption of alcohol at work events;

• developing and implementing thorough and effective policies and conducting periodic training to workers (keeping clear records of completion) to ensure awareness of workplace obligations, including bystander training;

• ensuring employees understand that discrimination and harassment, where substantiated, will be met with disciplinary action – and taking disciplinary action, where appropriate;

• having clear and timely procedures in place to respond to complaints, including internal and external grievance mechanisms and whistleblowing channels, and ensuring workers remain informed of same;

• monitoring the workplace environment and culture periodically to identify any risks; and/or

• having a person-centred and trauma informed response to complaints of discrimination, victimisation or harassment and throughout investigations.

It is likely that the organisation will have already implemented a proactivebased system, given their obligations under applicable work health and safety legislation. Such that, as long as long as the organisation was applying this approach prior, it is likely that the organisation will be considered  compliant.

APPROPRIATE RESOLUTION PROCESSES

We think it is important to note that, since the Respect at Work Act’s introduction, the AHRC has launched a Respect at Work website described as a “one-stop-shop” online resource to assist both employers and workers in preventing, and responding to, workplace sexual harassment.

While most of the content on the website is beneficial in providing guidelines and indicators of best practice for employers with regards to minimising the risk of sexual harassment, and avenues for workers in seeking redress if subjected to any prohibited conduct. Of some concern, however, is that the Website advises workers of a number of informal resolution mechanisms that can be utilised as a ‘resolution pathway’ in the event of a sexual harassment report. In particular, the website states: “when a person reports sexual harassment, it should not automatically trigger a form investigation as the inevitable next step”.

Depending on the contextual circumstances of a matter, we do not necessarily endorse adopting an informal approach, given it may

be viewed as in conflict with the positive duties and the obligations prescribed under work health and safety legislation, particularly from ‘preventing recidivism’ standpoint. In some circumstances, the severity of any allegations complained of may warrant that the only reasonably proportionate approach of an organisation would be to treat the matter formally (i.e. the commencement of an investigation process) despite the complainant’s preference for a more informal resolution.

This is not to discourage any complainant from raising a report, but it may be prudent for the organisation to make it clear to their workers within their relevant policies or procedures, that while the organisation is willing to work with the complainant to resolve matters of this nature on their terms, depending on the contextual severity of the allegations, the organisation may not have any other option but to approach the matter formally.

CONCLUDING REMARKS

Finally, the AHRC compliance powers do not commence until December 2023, such that operators should ensure that the control measures in place appropriately and adequately manage workplace risks relating to sexual harassment, victimisation and sex discrimination in order to avoid being subjected to enforcement action and/or any civil penalties.

Should your business require any assistance in ensuring compliance with the abovementioned legislative changes, please do not hesitate to contact us at dwfgroup. com and we would be happy to assist. •

Operators have a positive duty to provide a safe place of work for workers.

OUT AND ABOUT WITH THE IQA BRANCHES

workforce. Delegates heard from Meaghan Trovato, Strategic Operational Development Officer from Townsville Hospital & Health Service on how the health industry has managed this.

Following on from Meaghan’s presentation the day concluded with a panel session on Keeping Safety Relevant; panellists included Michelle Lergessner (BRW Quarries), Trevor Brown (RSHQ) and Meaghan Torvato, discussed how the industry can effectively manage safety and risk in the current environment.

The North Queensland Branch would like to thank all the speakers for the day and the conference sponsors and exhibitors; Sundowner sponsor – Sitech, Lanyard sponsor – SSE Co, Conference Exhibitors – Cotral, Coolfog, ScopeGeo, 5Sticks Consulting, and Vision Intelligence.

Meaghan Trovato spoke at the conference.

The conference provided valuable information to IQA’s regional members.

IQA MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

Q&A WITH KEELAN MCNULTY

Quarry speaks with the Young Members Network Coordinator for Queensland, Keelan McNulty.

What’s your current role and what does it involve?

I’m a Commercial Analyst with Hanson. A bit different to what I expected to be doing this time two years ago when I moved to Australia. Being an analyst is varied but the main aspects of my role include managing capital expenditure applications and spend and supporting the commercial and local ops teams during end of month, forecasts, and budgets. There is a more to it but those are the key parts of the job description. The best part of the job is the visibility I get of the entire QLD and NT operations, something a lot of people won’t experience until becoming a more senior leader.

How long have you been in the industry?

Five years next month. I started out on a graduate management scheme in the UK.

What are the main benefits to joining the YMN and engaging with others in the industry through the YMN?

Firstly, the main benefit of being a member of the IQA is belonging to a group of professionals with a multitude of backgrounds who can provide inspiration and advice on all topics in the construction materials space. By joining the YMN specifically, you get a great opportunity to network with other young professionals as well as more experienced members of the industry. Sometimes in our industry the nature of working on-site can be quite isolating from others who are on a similar path in their own site or area of expertise, preventing the opportunity for sharing learnings and advice. The breadth of events with the IQA YMN and the subsequent networking can lead to mentoring, learning, support and career opportunities. I would argue that everyone can benefit in some way from membership and engaging with their local branch.

How does the guidance and support help to grow young people into industry leaders?

Being a leader in our industry does not always mean being a manager. Through mentoring, networking, and access to experienced professionals, young members can develop the confidence, networks and skills they need to succeed and influence decisions within the trade throughout their career. The IQA does also provide more specific training and development opportunities, allowing young members to develop their skills and stay up to date with industry trends.

The perception of the quarrying industry is incredibly important when it comes to the longevity of the industry, what role do the younger generations have to play when it comes to representing the quarrying industry?

There is a huge amount of work being done within businesses in the construction materials sector in CO2 reduction (carbon capture or sequestration at cement plants), circular economy (recycled concrete aggregates) and sustainability (quarry rehabilitation). More often than not when I discuss this with someone outside of our industry, they have a perception of those being initiatives that we would not consider investing in. Young members of the IQA can help to promote the industry’s positive attitude to sustainability and discuss the benefits of quarrying and construction materials with the wider public, including the industry’s importance and the value it provides to society.

That said, young members should also be working together to hold the industry to account for poor or slow action in this space. Accountability is a value the industry will benefit from in the long run and also improve the perception of the quarrying industry.

Every tour and site visit is a great opportunity to see how others operate. Right now, I’m most looking forward to the QLD branch tour of Downer’s new Brendale Sustainable Road Resource Centre to see their ‘Reconomy’ facility. It will be a unique opportunity to see how some of Queensland’s waste is processed. There is also something exciting in the works in the background with an YMN international tour proposed by my fellow YMN co-ordinator Andrew Britton. More information to follow on that…

Has there been any long-lasting connections made through your time with the YMN?

I’ve been in Australia for nearly two years now, and I still have good friends from the industry in the UK that I catch up with, other young professionals and even mentors. I’m glad to say I’ve made some great connections here as well. I expect to achieve the same level of support and lasting connections here with the IQA YMN.

Is there anything you would like to share to help people join the YMN?

If you would like to join the IQA Young Member Network, please visit our website at www.quarrying.org.au or contact us directly at info@quarrying.org.au. If you’d like to talk to me or another coordinator directly about joining a branch’s Young Member Network in further detail, you can find all of our contact details within the IQA website under the Young Member Network page. We’d be delighted to tell you more!

SILVER SCREEN CASTS QUARRIES IN A NEW LIGHT

After years of COVID-affected filming which reduced many major motion pictures to studios and greenscreens, more filmmakers are searching for real settings to add an edge to their films.

Data from FilmLA showed the months of October through December 2021 had an all-time quarterly record of 10,780 shoot days compared to 2020 when the industry was gripped by the COVID shutdown.

The push to produce more films has only grown since then, which has been a boost for the quarrying sector.

Former quarries have become backdrops and filming locations for some of Hollywood’s biggest blockbusters in recent times.

Darnol Quarry in England played host to one of acting’s biggest names in 2021 when Tom Cruise reprised his role as Ethan Hunt in Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning Part One.

Fans from England may have noticed the backdrop for a particular scene as Cruise and Esai Morales fight on a speeding train.

The quarry has been out of production for several years but has become a popular

rock-climbing spot.

Cruise and the film’s writer and director Christopher McQuarrie have voiced their approval for the quarry scene.

“There was not a surplus of trains available to be wrecked. We had to build the train if we wanted to destroy it,” McQuarrie said on social media.

“Crashing the train involved multiplying factors of difficulty. Every single camera had exactly one shot at getting it right.

“Everything you are seeing in this spectacular train sequence is done to invest the audience in these characters.”

Cruise added in a tweet: “This train sequence was tricky, but the outcome made it all worth it. I can’t wait for everyone to see it come to life.”

The English quarry joins a list of famous quarrying sites to make the silver screen which ranges from Australia to Wales and beyond.

Dinorwig Quarry in northern Wales has been part of House of Dragon, the spin-off to the global television phenomenon Game of Thrones. The Welsh site has also graced the cinema in Street Fighter (1984), Clash of the Titans (2009), and Willow (1987).

The 200-year-old Trefil limestone quarry in

the 1880s, was reportedly last used for aggregate production in 2015 before it was transformed into a movie set.

Hollywood has developed a certain love affair with quarries. •

Dinorwig Quarry is reportedly going to feature in House of Dragon.

Image Credit: Shawn Williams

Tom Cruise at the Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One premiere.

Image credit: Shutterstock, Loredana Sangiuliano

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